Cushion construction



Dec. 31, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 KASPAR CUSHION CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1926 Dec. 3l, 1929. F. KAEFAR 1,741,847 Q CUSHION CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill ' comprise a atente rial: Keenan, or unmade, rtninois, Assienon' no a. man a anon, on enrondo.

- innmois, a eonronarron on when vinein @USHION CONSTRUCTION Application filed May 1d,

disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 109,079, filed of even date herewith.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 represents a lan view, partly in section, of a cushionem odying the invention; Fig. 2 a broken vertical sectionalview of the same, the section being taken as indi-' cated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a broken inner face view of the bottom of the structure,- showing an air-valve applied. thereto; Fig. 4 a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, illustrating a slight modification; and Fig. 5 asimilar sectional viewyillustrating another modification. 4

1n the construction illustrated in Figs. 1-3, the cushion comprises a rectangular base frame A which supports a bottom A a marginal row of upholstery springs B supported on the frame A and connected at their u per ends with a marginal rod B; an inner ody of upholstery springs C comprising a lower nest .of s rings 0' and an up er nest of springs the upper ends of t emarginal row of the up er tier of inner springs being connected with a marginal rod C; a filling of suitable stufling or wadding material D, such as hair, moss or cotton disposed above the springs; and 'a covering E which may ply of burlap 1 and a finish fab-J preferably are encased in individual or coverings,-of fabric 3; and the springs are united at their upper ends by-ties or stitches 3". Thes rings B are connected also with the margina rod B, as by means of ties or stitches 3".

Preferably the inner or main body of springs G com rises the upper and. lower tiers C and C respectively, the lower tier of springs. The springs B of the outer marginal row pockets,

'wardly 1926. denial Ito. 109,078.

being sugported on the bottoinvA. which may i be regar ed as a part of the base ofthe struc ture, and the upper tier being su ported directly upon the lower tier, and mean a sub- 7 stantial distance above the upper an s of the outer marginal row of springs B. Preferably, also, the" springs of the lower tier C are heavier and stiffer than the springs of the'upper tier C The springs of the lower tier areencased in individual fabric casings, w

or pockets, 4, and the springs of the upper tierare encased in individual fabric coverings 5. The upper ends f the marginal springsfof the lower tier 8? are connected with a marginal rod 0". Ties 6 serve to connect the marginal rows of the inner tiersof springs with the marginal rods 0 and C The springs of the inner main body are connected together by-means of ties 7.,

The base of the structure comprises the rectangular frame and the bottom A. The bottom A may be of any suitable construction. ln the illustration given, it is composed of strong webbing 8 which issecured to'the upperportion of the rectangular frame A. v

A fabric 9, which may be of burlap, is stretched over the springs of the lower tier U,=and is provided with skirt portions 9. A fabric of springs C and is provided with tions 10. The skirt portions '9- these. fabrics are tacked to the frame A, as indicated at 11.

The fabrics and 10 may be of burlap, or they may be ofa suitable fabric of substantially air-tight character, so-that air will not s irt por- -readily escape through the fabric. If desired, more than one ply of fabric'may be used as a covering for each of the inner tiers 10 is stretched over the uiper. tier so and 10' of The bottom A may be composed of a strong, heavy fabric, or'of several plies of fabric, and may be substantially alr-tight.

vIt is preferredto provide the bottom with perforations 12 covered on. the inside by upopening valves 13 (one shown). Such valves are adapted to open upwardly to admit air within the cushion structure when the cushion expands, and are adapted to re: tard the expulsion of air when the cushion is '0 by having the upper tier ofthe main body and 2 of these fa rics are tacked to the bottom of the frame A, as indicated at '14.

The upper end portions of the outer marginal row of springs B are connected, by ties 15, with the adjacent portions of the springs of the upper tier C These connections are some distance below the upper ends of the springs C -While the outer marginal row of springs B is thus anchored to theinner main body of springs, there is a certain independent action of the main body of springs when the cushion is occupied. This is due partly to the greater length of the main body of springs (considering the upper and lower tiers as a unit), artly to the manner in which the inner main ody of springs is connected with the outer mar inal row of springs, and

partly to the fact t at the upper tier of the inner main body of springs is more yielding than the outer marginal row of springs.

Also, there isa certain advantage gained of springs'lighter than the lower tier. Thus the upper tier will yield readily to the person, while the lower tier will resist undue compression and tend to prevent undue sagging g; of the cushion.

Otherwise stated, the inner main body of springs, considered as a whole, will yield readi y and conform to the person, while the outer row of springs will offer more resistance andtend to give a certain desired firmness of support to the limbs near the knees.

- This action will occur without inconvenience to the person seated on the cushion, owing to the fact that the marginal row of the inner main body of springs will .yield rather readily when the person is seated. Moreover, the outer marginal row of s rings tends toprevent sagging of the cushion at its peripheral portion, which is a very desirable feature.

Again, the use of t e marginal rods, or heavy wires, spaced in the manner illustrated, provides greater stren th for the cushion as a whole, without sacri cing desired flexibility and resilience.

In the modification shown in my co-pending ap lication mentioned above, the springs of the mner main body consist of a single tier of suflicient length to rise from the base to a substantial distance above the outer marginal row of springs.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying rawings, the, construction corresponds with the construction shown in Fig. 2, exce t that the bottom, designated A, is compose of cross-strips of strong webual fabric casings enclosing bing which are tacked'to the frame A; and the lowertier of springs, designated C, is considerably heavier and stronger than the lower springs of the first described construction, and is not encased in individual pockets. The other elements corresponding with the construction shown in Fig. 2 are designated by corresponding reference characters.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the construction corresponds with the construction shown in Fig. 2, except that the bottom forming a portion of the base and designated A is formed of sheet metal. This sheet metal member is provided with an upturned mar ginal flange 16 which fits within the frame A and is equipped with outturn ed lugs-'16 which are secured to the upper surface of the frame A. In this case, the lower tier of springs C is supported upon the depressed bottom A The other elements in the construction shown in Fig. correspond with the construction shown in Fig. 2, and are designatedby correspondingreference characters.

In all of the constructions described, the central body of springs presents a readily yielding upper portion. This feature is also present in the construction described in my co-pending application mentioned above.

On the other hand, where the central body of springs is composed of two tiers, greater staunchness of construction is secured by reason of the use of an intermediately located marginal rod C; and an even more staunch and durable cushion is provided, but with some sacrifice in softness, where the lower tier of the central body of springs is of relatively stifi springs.

The improved cushion is a self-contained structure which may be placed upon any suitable su port. The improved cushion may be made 0 necessary length and of the right proportions to serve as a seat cushion or as a back cushion'in a sleeping car berth, where the advantages noted are hlghly desirable.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of. understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I re ard as new and desire to secure by Letters atent is:

1. A cushion comprising a base, an outer marginal row of relatively stifi upholstery springs mounted on said base, an inner main body ofu holstery springs mounted directly on said ase and extending substantially above said outer mar inal rowv of springs the upper portion of t "e inner main body 0 springs being relatively yieldin and the lower portion being relatively sti individindividual springs of the groups mentioned, a marginal rod secured to the upper end portions of the outer marginal row of springs, a marginal rod secured to the upper portion of the main body of springs, connections between the upper portion of the outer row of springs and the adjacent intermediate portions of the inner main body of springs, stufling material above said springs, and a flexible covering enclosing the stuffing material and springs and secured to said base. 2. A cushion comprising a base; amain body of upholstery springs comprising a lower tier of relatively strong springs mounted on said base, a marginal rod connected with the upper ends of the marginal row of said springs, an upper tier of relatively light springs mounted on said lower tier, coverings enclosin the individual springs of the upper tier, am? a marginal rod connected with the upper portion of the marginal row of springs of said upper tier; a fabric stretched over said main body of springs and secured to said base; an outer row of relatively stifli' uphol- ,stery springs mounted on said base and extending above the plane between said tiers of springs and terminating below the plane of the upper ends of said upper tier,fabrics covering the individual springs of said outer row, ties connecting the upper ends of the springs of said outer row with intermediate '30 portions of the adjacent springs of said upper tier; stufiing material above said springs; and a flexible covering enclosing the stulfing material and springs and secured to said base. v FRANK KASPAR. 

